Apparatus for refining, aging, mellowing, and purifying alcoholic liquors.



No. 698,l83.

' Patenfed Mn 22, I902. J. F. DUFFY.-

APPARATUS FOR BEFINING, AGING, MELLOWING, AND PURIFYING ALCOHOLICLIHUORS.

(No Model.)

(Application filed Sept. 30, 1901.

3 Sheets-Sheet L,

. Maw:

m: Nonms PETER; cc, momumm, WKSHINGYON, I:v c.

Patented Apr. 22, I902...

7 J. F. DUFFY. APPARATUS FOR REFINING, AGING, MELLOWING, AND PURIFYINGALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

(Application flled Sept. 30, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

In: norms warns cc.. wow-umo WASHINGTON. u. c.

Patented-Apr. 22, I902.

No. 698,l83.

J. r. DUFFY, I I APPARATUS FOR BEFINING, AGING, MELLOWING, AND PUBIFYINGALCOH'DLIC LIO UORS.

Ap nmion med'se t. so, 1901.

Y s SheetsShaei s.

(No Model.)

'm: NoRm s Perzgs ca, woruuma, wnsumammu. c.

UNITED Tiaras I ATENT JAMES FRANKLIN DUFFY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING, AGING, MELLOWING, AND PURIFYING ALCOHOLICLIQUORS.

SPECIFHJATION formingpart a Letters Patent No. 698,183, dated April 221902.

Application filed September 30, 1901. Serial No. 77,008. (No model.)

To all whom) it neay concern:

Be it known thatI, JAMES FRANKLINDUFFY,

a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Refining,Aging, Mellowiug, and Purifying Alcoholic Liquors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

[0 My invention relates to a certain apparatus designed for the purposeof refining, aging, inellowing, and purifying liquors, the object beingto give to said liquors the same taste and properties as if they hadbeen treated in I; the ordinary way during a period of many years.

To such end the invention consists in the combination in certainrelations of a series of tanks or receptacles having suitable conneczotions containing certain devices by means of Which the desired operationmay be effected.

The preferred form of apparatus will be described in detail, and theessential features thereof pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1.is an elevation of a complete apparatus. Fig.2 is a detail of an air-mixer. Fig. 3 is a vertical diametrical sectionof tank No. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar section.

of tank No. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar ViGW of tank .30 3; and Fig. 6 is asimilar section through both members of an ordinary simple form ofstill.

Referring to the drawings, A is a supply tank or vat in which the liquoris placed and from which it flows, preferably by gravity, into the nextportion of the apparatus. 7

B is a second tank connected With the first by a pipe 0, in Which isinterposed nearest the tank A a stop-cock D, then a check-valve E, thenan air mixer or injector F.

G is an air-compressor of ordinary construction, from which a pipe gleads to the injector F.

In Fig. 2 the preferred construction of said injector is shown, the samecontaining a port or passagefin line with the pipe 0, and a similar portor passage f in line With the pipe g and at an acute angle to the portf. A'stopcock g controls the passage of air to the injectoiu By means ofthe air-compressor and the connections described a quantity of air,

'dicates the temperature thereof.

such as may be found desirable, may be mingled with the liquor duringits passage through the pipe C, said air aiding in the oxidation of theportions of the liquors to be removed therefrom.

The pipe C passes into the tank B, enters a coil 1) therein, Fig. 3, andemerges into a pipe H. The tank B is preferably filled with water 1),heated by means of a steam-pipe b and preferably kept at about 170Fahrenheit, at 6c which temperature the essential oils and n0xiousingredients of liquors are more easily separated Without injury to theiraroma.

A thermometer b provides means for determining the temperature of theinterior of 6 the tank B. From the tank B the pipe II leads into thethird tank I and terminates, preferably, in about the center thereof ina spray-nozzle K, shown as consisting of a coilof pipe containing innerperforations lo. 70 The pressure back of the liquor at this point shouldforce it from the perforations with an atomizing efiect, and a nozzle min the end of a pipe'M'ejects into the spray discharged from theatomizer a current of air impregnated with tannic or acetic acid,adapted to impart to the Wine a certain astringency and also'to aid inthe etherization of such impurities as may remain therein at this point-The impregnated air is furnished from a tank N, Fig.6, having a Waterjacket n, inclosing'an inner receptacle n, in which is placed a vessel02, containing tannic or acetic acid. A steam-pipe n affords means ofheating the receptacle, and a thermometer n in- An air-pipe 0,controlled by a stop-cock 0, leads from the air-compressor to the innerreceptacle, and the pipe M leads from the top of the receptacle to thenozzle m. A stop-cock m enables 0 the flow of air in the pipe M to becontrolled.

I prefer to heat the air in the receptacle n to about 150 Fahrenheit toassist it in taking up the tannic or acetic acid and also to maintainthe desired temperature at the point 5 of discharge through the nozzlem.

From the lower portion of the tank I a pipe P leads to an ordinarydistilling apparatus Q, as shown in Fig. 6, the same consisting of aheater (1 heated by a steam-pipe q and preferably containing water (f, astill (1 the upper portion of which is connected with a worm g in acooler supplied with cold water q through the pipe cf, the water passingoff through the overflow-pipe g As the liquor reaches the still thevolatile ether will pass off in the first working of the still in theform of gas and the products of oxidation will remain in the bottom ofthe still to be cleaned out prior to the receiving of a new charge. Theproduct may be redistilled in the ordinary way and will have the sametaste and properties as are imparted to it by aging according to themethod commonly practiced.

The method of aging and refining liquors herein set forth is fullydescribed and claimed in application for patent of even date herewithand designated by the Serial No. 77,009.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In anapparatus of the class described, the combination with a supply-tank, ofa heatiug-tank arranged at a lower level, an aircompressor, asupply-pipe leading from the supply-tank to the heating-tank, a pipeleading from the air-compressor to the supplypipe and entering the sameat an acute angle in the direction of ilow in said supply-pipe, a coilwithin the heating-tank connected with the supply-tank, means forheating the interior of said heating-tank, an atomizing-tank, anatomizer therein connected with the heating-tank and means for ejectinga current of impregnated air upon the liquor as it emerges from theatomizer; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with anatomizing-tank, of an atomizer therein provided with means for supplyingit with a flow of mingled air and liquor and a nozzle directed towardthe spray of the atomizer and provided with means for supplying it witha flow of air impregnated with a suitable substance; substantially asdescribed.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with anatomizing-tank, of an atomizer therein, a heating-tank, a supply-tankand air compressor, connectingpipes leading the liquor from thesupply-tank, injecting air into the same, passing in the form of a coilthrough the heating-tank and leading to the atomizer, means for heatingthe interior of said heating-tank, a heated receptacle containing asuitable reagent, an air-pipe supplying air to said heated receptacleand a pipe leading therefrom and discharging into the spray of theatomizer; substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of asupply-tank, a heatingtank at a lower level and. connected therewith bya suitable connection, an air-injector in said connection, anair-compressor, connected to said injector and adapted to in ject acurrent of air into the liquor, a heated coil within the heating-tankjoined to the connection with the supply-tank, a suitableatomizing-tank, an atomizer therein connected with said coil, a heatedreceptacle containing a suitable reagent, a connection between saidreceptacle and the atomizingtank, means for forcing compressed air intosaid heated receptacle, suitable distilling apparatus and connectionsbetween said atomizing-tank and said distilling apparatus; substantiallyas described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, this .u7t11l day of September, A.D. 1901.

JAMES FRANKLIN DUFFY.

\Vitnesses:

S. BLISS, M. 1- Buss.

